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The Happy Huntleys Issue Challenge to Raise $20,000 to Fund Feature Length ALS Documentary
[April 14, 2014]

The Happy Huntleys Issue Challenge to Raise $20,000 to Fund Feature Length ALS Documentary


BURBANK, Calif. --(Business Wire)--

To raise awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, Jon Huntley, a former technology CFO turned community activist, as The Happy Huntleys, is set to raise at least $20,000 by April 25th for his feature length documentary "Face ALS."

The film will interview many people with ALS (PALS), their relatives, and friends about the impact of ALS on their lives. Face ALS will also produce six short public service announcements (PSAs) that include statistics, facts and quotes about ALS interspersed with pictures and inspiring graphics of people with ALS.

"Face ALS will unite all of our ALS stories to inform others about the disease and the need to fund research for cures," says Jon. View the kickoff video on the website at www.faceals.com.

"It is only together that we will defeat ALS, and there is no better example of collaboration, dedication and determination in the fight against ALS than that which we see from Jon, his family and their community of 'Happy Huntleys,'" said Fred Fisher, President and CEO of The ALS Association Golden West Chapter. "Jon's Face ALS Project is an essential element in our efforts to increase awareness and secure the resources necessary to advance our global research program, our care services program and our public policy initiatives - all of which play key roles in the search for an effective treatment and cure. As a result of increased awareness and support, The ALS Association can continue to fund groundbreaking scientific and therapeutic discoveries that enable a better understanding of the causes of ALS, developing newtreatments for ALS, and ultimately, finding a cure for this devastating disease."



Jon was diagnosed with ALS in September 2012. It is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. People with ALS lose the ability to walk, talk, speak, swallow, and eventually to breathe, while their five senses and, in most cases, their minds continue to function normally. The average life expectancy of a person with ALS is two to five years from time of diagnosis.

With two of the six PSAs already completed, Jon struggles with his strength on a daily basis. Unable to speak, Jon writes: "I can't hold my head up for more than a minute while typing on my laptop. But my fellow PALS faith motivates me to fight through the pain and weakness. This is my passion project and I will do everything in my power to finish it."


To raise the $20,000 needed to make the Face ALS documentary, The Happy Huntleys are selling several items at www.faceals.com including a Face ALS DVD, a crew tee, or a credit at the end title. All payments are being processed securely through PayPal (News - Alert). Any and all proceeds after production costs, marketing and distribution expenses will be donated to benefit The ALS Association Golden West Chapter.

Face ALS encourages people to share this campaign with their Facebook, Twitter (News - Alert), and other social networks. #faceals

About The Happy Huntleys

The Happy Huntleys originally formed as Jon's walk team for The ALS Association Golden West Chapter's Los Angeles County Walk to Defeat ALS®. It evolved into a platform for its founder, Jon Huntley's, many interests as an ALS activist, as well as an information hub to inform friends and family about the progression of his disease. For more information, please visit their website, (The Happy Huntleys), follow them on Twitter (@wjhuntley2000), like them on Facebook (News - Alert) (The Happy Huntleys) and read more on Tumblr (http://www.tumblr.com/blog/thehappyhuntleys). For more information about ALS, please visit www.alsagoldenwest.org.


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